Karelian Bear Dog

I’m a short-haired, black and white, medium-sized, sturdy dog. Most of us have a white ruff of somewhat longer and more profuse hair and a white-tipped bushy tail and longer hair should also be visible on our hind legs. Depending on the country of origin, preferred features may include the white ruff, white chest, white stomach and a white tail tip, traits that make me clearly visible both in twilight and in the dark; you won’t have trouble noticing me on a snowy background, either, which is much appreciated by hunters. I stand 57 – 60 cm tall, the Karelian ladies usually won’t stand over 55 cm.
I come from Finland where I’m still used in elk hunting. I work by tracing the elk on a distance of many kilometres and then I harry the animal by swiftly running around and barking intensely, keeping it at bay and waiting for the arrival of my master–the hunter. They keep track of me by means of a navigation device attached to my neck. What I must not do is returning to the hunter after I’ve run just a couple of hundreds of meters away. I must trace and search intensely. If this is not the case, I am useless for hunting. If my blood is one of an excellent worker, I’ve got these abilities hard-wired in my brain. Everyone should be aware of this, as this is why it’s difficult to make me come back when you call. I have developed excellent sense of direction. The same holds when I hunt bears – I’m used both in hunting these animals and in chasing them away from human settlements. One of the offspring of the Czech Anela kennel is used just in this type of bear hunting. Hence the Bear in my name, which, contrary to what many lay people assert, does not mean that I’m supposed to be of ursine appearance, but rather reflects the type of work I used to be and still am used for. I’m keen on working in hunting just any game. I excel in finding all kinds of animals, I’m superb in fetching ducks and I enjoy swimming. Members of our kind with the blood of good workers do not need any complicated training to learn duck fetching. Our master would train us in this activity by throwing the duck into water, every time a bit farther from the shore, and we would happily jump in and swim for it. We swim in waters of all depths, but be careful, because some of us get so excited that we wouldn’t hesitate fetching a swan – such ones of us are allowed to indulge in duck fetching only at places that are swan-free. When I chase live animals, I relentlessly bark and run around them; I never touch them, and therefore I’m not at risk of getting hurt. But I’m a fierce dog when it comes to varmint. Damage-causing animals won’t usually be able to escape and, unfortunately, to survive my attack. I am very harsh with them. My ears are short and upright, my coat thick and short-haired and I carry my tail curled over my back, which is why I have no need to fear getting hurt if I dash into a the thickest of thickets or get entangled in thorn bush. I am extremely nimble even in deep snow and I don’t mind heavy snowfall or rain, either. My coat is very good, keeping my undercoat always dry, even if I jump into water. I enjoy working and I like hunting. It’s my passion and I can go on for many kilometres pursuing game. If you make me seek out game frequently, I’ll quickly understand that I am supposed to seek out animals that have been shot or injured in shooting and whom I can positively identify by their stress. I don’t get distracted by a group of wild boar fleeing in all directions.

I work very fast, so it’s best to keep me on a tracking leash when I am seeking out game. Once I start tracking an animal, I am reluctant to give up, so it’s good for my master to have me within view, to make sure I am safe or don’t get run over by a car. If it happens that my master needs to take me home at night, he can bring me back the following morning, to the spot where we stopped last night, and I just pick up the trail and search on with zest. I have excellent memory and am keen on following through with the search. In Finland, I have earned the nickname of “the one who’s gone in an instant”. Everyone should therefore know that I need to be busy with something all the time and enjoy a lot of physical activity; otherwise I get bored and go into mischief. I rake my mistress’s garden, I fetch anything I find, I bark a lot and if my master’s fencing is not solid, good, high and firm, I may well nip out for a hunt on my own, which isn’t something any master would like to see. I’m also fast to dig my way under any obstacle. I enjoy freedom and movement. I’m not a dog to be kept in a kennel for many hours – this makes me very unhappy. And I’m not a one to be kept indoors, either, like in a flat for example. I don’t like warmth and I would miss the exercise and movement I mentioned which I love so much. Bringing me up is a bit challenging and therefore it’s always best to get some experience in dog upbringing first, before you decide I’m the right one for you. Most of us can’t stand other dogs; we need to hunt on our own, with no other dogs around. No way am I a pack dog. Once we find an animal, we defend our prey fiercely. Aggressive behaviour towards other dogs is even included in the standards, but we must not bite people. If I am brought up well I won’t bite people and some of us won’t even seek the company of strangers. We are very friendly with the people whom we know and we greet them straight away when they come visiting. On the other hand, we are leery, excellent guards and nothing slips our attention. Karelian ladies are mostly as wild and passionate hunters as us, their male counterparts.

If you decide I’m the one you want to have, it’s recommended to get me as early as possible; as soon as at two months of age is best. I’m very perceptive as a puppy already. I remember everything and bad experiences even better – these I sometimes never forget! Therefore everyone who picks a puppy should make sure that it was born in a kennel that offers excellent and feel-good environment /movement, exercise, food, good sanitary conditions, a breeder with brilliant attitude/. I’m extremely wild as a puppy. I bite like mad, but not because I would be angry – I do this because I am overflowing with energy. Patience is therefore necessary if you have small children. I love them, but because I’m so uncouth and wild I can harm them inadvertently if I accidentally knock them down, scratch or gnaw at them. I am reluctant to give up a retrieve or my food and sometimes I growl or even snap, and therefore consistent and thorough admonition and upbringing is necessary. After half a year, however, I grow a bit wiser, leaving these passions behind. I still enjoy movement and exercise, though, and, as my master says, I’m somewhat of an unguided missile up to two years of age. After two years I become more reasonable and if my master loves me and brings me up with affection, I’m becoming a very wise dog. But be careful, because I’m still a passionate hunter and I love movement and exercise outdoors. It’s better to admonish me verbally as I put up badly with harsh treatment. In the woods, I’m a fierce fighter, but in relation to my master I’m very sensitive, too much sometimes. Beating and violence is something I take very badly. It’s important for everyone to be aware of this. It’s enough for my mistress to wag her index finger at me and raise her voice; although I take offence immediately, I am aware that I have done something wrong and I stop it. I will gladly lie next to my master in front of the TV, we will have something tasty, and I feel on top of the world if he strokes me, but I won’t claim his incessant attention – I won’t be a bother if there is no good reason. I enjoy my master’s company and I like being around him, as this is how we can understand each other well; to make me behave, verbal admonishment will do. I really hate obedience classes when one thing is repeated again and again for long. Given my percipience, short exercises will do; otherwise I start defying and do things out of spite because such activities bore me to death. Unlike other dog breeds, I need sufficient time to assess situations I haven’t been in yet, to make sure there is no risk involved; if I don’t get that time, I seem scared. This may happen if someone e.g. tries to push me into something by force or do the terrible thing to throw me into water. If you want to reward me, a tasty treat or a bit of rollick will do, or a play with other dogs – if I get that, I develop a joyful nature; if I miss it, I grow grumpy and make an impression of a peevish and timid dog. You can tell an apt and skilful master by his ability to estimate this well. This is what the Czech Anela dog kennel has learned. This is the way I am, me, the Karelian Bear Dog.